James Baxter, Civil War Flag

James Baxter , Jr.

Brother of Rachel Baxter Crain

Photos and story courtesy of Elwood Taylor

CIVIL WAR FLAG MADE BY WOMEN OF HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY

Augusta Eagle, November 1987

If you passed through the village of Huntsville, located in western Schuyler County, Illinois Monday, November 16, 1987 and your vision caught a glimpse of a Civil War flag, perhaps one would instantly believe the war was being reinstated. The old flag was raised in the Huntsville Park to be photographed.

Alice Drake, Leota King, Marjorie Ringgenberg, Jim Ringgenberg and Mike Scott helped to get the flag in place. The flag was recently given to Jim Ringgenberg of Huntsville from Donald Crain of California. The flag was made by the women of the Huntsville area during or prior to the Civil War and was carried through the war.

Mrs. Susan Jane Pettijohn, the daughter of Jackson and Zarilda Allphin Thornhill who were all early settlers of the county was one of the makers of the flag. Mrs. Pettijohn's daughter, Gertrude, partially repaired the flag November 24, 1917. The flag was carried and brought home by James Baxter, a member of Company B 16th Illinois Infantry. After his death in 1870 the widow, Molly Baxter, married William Brumback. Mr. Brumback gave the flag to Ralph W. Crain Sept. 9, 1917.

The measurement of the hand-made flag is 18 feet in length and 6 feet in width, contains 13 bars and 33 stars and carries bloodstains.

If only this old flag could give its history there would be more than this newspaper would have to contain. The flag will be given to the Schuyler County Jail Museum.

WHERE IS THE FLAG NOW?

Although the article indicates that the flag is to be given to the Jail Museum, it did not end up there. The current owner of the flag, Elwood Taylor contacted the Schuyler County Jail Museum and they confirmed that James Ringgenberg had indeed donated the flag after it was given to him by Don Crain but later Mr. Ringgenberg had taken it back. When he died in 2001, it was sold with Mr. Ringgenberg’s estate.

As noted, it was given to Ralph W. Crain from Jim Baxter’s family. Ralph Crain, an avid historian, put the flag together with what Mr. Taylor terms “provenance” - within the wrappings of the flag were the newspaper article from the Augusta Eagle (above) picturing the flag and the story of it's creation and its being given to James Baxter who was a musician in the Union Army.

Mr. Taylor writes, “I will attach (the article) so you can see the rest of the history, including the involvement of Ralph Crain and Donald Crain. That's how I came to find your genealogy on the Web. Also included was a brown wrapping paper with the inscription "CIVIL WAR FLAG OF HUNTSVILLE TP. SCHUYLER COUNTY ILLINOIS. F. M. CRAIN" (Frank Matthew Crain).” A later inscription says "Given to R. W. Crain by Wm. Brumbach 1916"

There were also numerous original photos that Mr. Elwood generously agreed to send to me, Sue Hawes, to add to the Crain Collection (some of which is found here on this website).

(back of photo)

Uncle Jim Baxter

1836-1870

Mother (Rachel Baxter Crain) says this photograph was taken while

Uncle Jim was a soldier, a member of regimental band of 16th Ill. Vol. Inf. 1861-5. Uncle Jim married Mary Overstreet. He worked in R.R. machine shops at Hannibal for about 2 years. Was then given an engine on H. & St. Jo. (Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad) but being in wreck, quit and farmed awhile at Grandpa's (Crain Farm). Then in August 1870 began running engine again on Kans. Pas. R.R. (Kansas Pacific Rail Road?) at $100.00. Was killed while running engine pushing snow plow Dec. 20,1870 west of Ellsworth, Kans. near Wilson's Creek.

RWC

Dec. 28,1902

(Ralph Waldo Crain)